Various organizations have condemned the shooting incident at Church Road, Dimapur on Saturday at around 1:45 pm where two student leaders identified as Benito Swu, son of Khuhoi Swu of Nitoi village, All Sumi Students’ Union (SKK) assembly speaker and also the former president of Kiphire District Sumi Students’ Union (KDSSU) and Atoka Chophy, son of Nishito Chophy of Nikiye village, a primary teacher and former KDSSU president, were injured.
SKK: All Sumi Students’ Union (SKK) vehemently condemned the incident wherein its Speaker, Benito Swu was critically injured and a former president KDSSU, Atoka Chophy sustained injury in his hip.
SKK in a joint statement issued by its president L. Abeto Shohe and general secretary, Mughato K. Swu demanded immediate clarification from the concerned faction or group on what grounds they had shot the two student leaders. The SKK also appealed the authority responsible to immediately arrest the culprits.
The Union also assured the victims that it would fight for justice and also wished them a speedy recovery.
NSF: Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) expressed “shock” over the shooting incident and condemned the “senseless action” of the culprits. NSF president, Imchatoba Imchen and general secretary, Hetoi Chishi in condemnation note said Naga students’ community took the act as an “insult and totally intolerable.”
The NSF took serious note of the incident and warned any individual or group against attempting to murder the Naga students’ leaders. The Federation said that the “senseless and inhuman action” of the culprits would never be taken lightly and added it cannot effort to rest until justice was delivered.
“In case, if any cadres of any Naga factions are involved, the highest authorities must give explanation to the incident and give befitting and exemplary punishment to the perpetrators whatsoever,” the NSF demanded.
Asserting that the case must be properly addressed and made known to the Nagas, the NSF demanded immediate reaction into the matter from the law and order agencies and award befitting punishment to the culprits.
It pointed out that such acts were a “risky deal” to the future lives of the general public. The NSF also said the lives and the future of the general public would be nowhere if the reputation of the social leaders were kept at risk.
Meanwhile, it has expressed grief and anger over the incident and extended support for the speedy recovery of the aggrieved students’ leaders.
SH: The Sumi Hoho also condemned the incident and described it as a “dastardly act.” Sumi Hoho general secretary, Kitoho S. Rotokha in a statement urged the people to allow the law of the land to take its own course of action.
NCD, NWHD, DSH: Naga Council Dimapur (NCD) Naga Women Hoho Dimapur (NWHD) and Dimapur Sumi Hoho (DSH) has condemned the shootout incident in strongest terms where two student leaders were seriously injured.
Dimapur Sumi Hoho president, Khukivi Awomi; Naga Council Dimapur president, Savi Liegise and general secretary, W Lemba Chang and Naga Women Hoho Dimapur general secretary, Esther Rio in a joint press statement said that such terror acts within the busy public place has greatly disturbed the peace and tranquility of Dimapur besides endangering the life and wellbeing of innocent general public.
The three organizations also urged all factions to immediately contain its own respective cadres from moving around in town with arms and creating terror to civilians. They have also urged the district administration to pursue the matter with utmost urgency and book the culprits for punishment as per the laws of the land.
DNSU: Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) executive council has vehemently condemned the shooting of two students’ leader SKK speaker, Benito and KDSSU former president, Atoka in broad daylight.
DNSU president, Solomon L Awomi and vice president, Modovoi Medeo in a joint condemnation note said such “unlawful and heinous crime” should be condemned by every right thinking citizen.
DNSU executive council while praying for the quick recovery of the injured victims has also urged the responsible authority to deal the matter with sincerity, so that sense of peaceful atmosphere was restored.
KDSU: Kiphire District Sumi Students’ Union (KDSU) has condemned the shooting incident and said the student leaders were shot at “without any reason.”
Condemning the “barbaric and uncivilized act” committed to innocent citizens, KDSSU general secretary, Shitovi Kiba in a release has urged the law enforcing agencies to immediately book the culprits and award befitting punishment as per the law.
NPMHR: NPMHR has also condemned the incident wherein two civilians including Speaker of All Sumi Students’ Union (SKK), Benito Swu and former President, Sumi Students’ Union, Kiphire, Atoka Chophy were shot at by unidentified gunmen near SBI Evening Branch, Dimapur Saturday afternoon.
NPMHR convenor Akaho Kiho in a press release said “this is a direct attack on civil society” and described it as an “act of cowardice.” The NPMHR further urged the law enforcing agencies to nab the gunmen at the earliest.
WSSU: Also condemning the incident, the Western Sumi Students’ Union (WSSU) through its president, Daniel H. Sumi demanded the authorities to immediately book the culprits and award them exemplary punishment.
BJYM: Bharata Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) Nagaland has vehemently condemned the shooting of Sumi student leaders on Saturday at Church Road Dimapur. BJYM president, James Vizo in a press statement said such action would divide the society instead of uniting for peace in the state.
DNSU: Diphupar Naga Students’ Union (DNSU) has also strongly condemned the incident. DNSU vice-president, Kevi and education and statistical secretary, Desring in a joint note urged civil societies to oppose such acts meted out to student leaders.